Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks edge through in classic contest

ABOVE – Loughgiel’s Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan celebrates after scoring Loughgiel’s third goal in Sunday’s win over Dunloy at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship – Semi-final 

Loughgiel 3-21 Dunloy 2-23

For the second day in a row we saw a shock result in the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals. On Saturday St John’s caused an upset when they dethroned the holders Cushendall and on Sunday Loughgiel Shamrocks produced what many people would rate as an even bigger upset when they beat hotly fancied Dunloy in an epic contest at Pairc Mhuire.

Loughgiel’s James McNaughton in action against Tom McFerran during Sunday’s Antrim Senior Hurling semi-final in Cushendall. Pic by John McIwaine

For twenty minutes of the game it all appeared to be going as predicted, and when the Cuchullains opened up an eight point lead after twenty one minutes the smart money would have been on them securing a final spot against St John’s in two weeks’ time. However Loughgiel dug deep when they were really up against it and rattled off five points in a row to close the gap to three, before Seaan Elliott fired over in injury time to give his team a four point cushion.

The restart was delayed because a member of the crowd needed medical treatment but once things got going the Shamrocks burst from the traps and hit 1-04 without reply in the first seven minutes to move a goal ahead. Dunloy finally got going and closed the gap to a single point, but a brilliant individual goal by James McNaughton started a run which saw them lead by eight points, a third goal brilliantly taken by Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan apparently in full control.

However Dunloy found another gear in the last ten minutes of normal time, and boosted by the return of Coby Cunning, one year after a cruciate knee injury, and a brilliant Keelan Molloy goal they drew level as the game went into injury time. With the allotted five minutes added time almost up  James McNaughton edged them back ahead with a pointed free, but there was still time for Dunloy to hit the  equaliser.

Extra time seemed almost certain at this stage but from the puc-out Rian McMullan won possession and split the posts to the load cheers of the Shamrocks fans. Those cheers were were silenced when Dunloy won a free seconds later to give Seaan Elliott the chance to tie things up again, but his shot from just outside the 65 tailed right off the target and the final whistle sounded seconds later to signal Shamrocks celebrations.

The opening quarter of the game was fantastic viewing as the scores came thick and fast as scores from Betty McKee and James McNaughton were answered by the brilliant Keelan Molloy. A pointed free by McNaughton had the Shamrocks 0-03 to 0-02 ahead on four minutes, but a brilliant goal Nigel Elliott gave Dunloy the lead for the first time a minute later. Rian McMullan and Roan McGarry came back with points for Loughgiel but they were answered by Molloy and Seaan Elliott to keep the game on a knife edge.

Coby Cunning who made a welcome to hurling one year and a day after injuring his cruciate on he same pitch and against the same team. Cunning hit three points in a five minute spell but Dunloy still came up a point short.

Dunloy got on top during the next ten minutes and with the wind behind them Kevin Molloy, Sean Elliott, Aodhan McGarry and Tom McFerran picked off scores and apparently put them in control, two pointed frees by James McNaughton were followed by two brilliant long range efforts inside a minute by half back Declan McCloskey gave their challenge a real shot in the arm. When Betty McKee sent over a magnificent point from a sideline ‘cut’ the gap was back to three, but another pointed free by Seaan Elliott with the last poc of the first half sent the Cuchullains in at the break with a four point cushion.

There were discussion among the pundits at half time about just how strong the win was but that was soon answered on the resumption when James McNaughton and Roan McGarry cut the deficit in half with two well taken points and when Dan McCloskey got in behind the Dunloy defence to fire home his team’s opening goal they were in front with just three minutes played.  There was more to come from the men in red as Dan McCloskey added a point from a narrow angle and Bubbles McMullan followed with an excellent point.

Dunloy and Loughgiel battle it out under the dropping ball before a large crowed at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine

The Elliott brothers Seaan and Nigel hit three of the next four scores to close the gap but the score of the game came a minute later when James McNaughton broke through the middle of the Dunloy defence and rifled a shot past Ryan Elliott to the back of the net. Seaan Elliott came back with a point but substitute Shan McGrath replied and when Bubbles McMullan showed extrodinary dexterity to somehow pull the ball to the Dunloy net the game appeared to be over as a contest.

However Dunloy certainly didn’t think that way and the introduction of substitute Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning, a year and a day after his terrible cruciate injury on the same ground, started to swing things back Dunloy’s way. It was as if he had  never been away and three points in a five minute spell, one from Seaan Elliott and one from Keelan Molloy left just a goal between the sides. When Molloy got through for a goal to level matters in the last minute of normal time to tie up the scores few pundits could see them losing out, but Loughgiel never flinched and late points by the two men who were in line for man of the match, James McNaughton and Rian McMullan sent the Shamrocks through to their second final in three years, and their first against St John’s since 1989.

Loughgiel’s Liam Glackin punches the air in celebration as the final whistle sounds on the Shamrocks semi-final win over Dunloy in Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine

Loughgiel C McFadden; R McCormick, E Og McGarry, L Glackin; B McGarry 0-02, R McCloskey, Declan McCloskey 0-02; R McKee 0-02, D Patterson; R Fitzgerald, J McNaughton 1-07 (0-5f), R McMullan 1-04; R McGarry 0-02, P Boyle, Daniel McCloskey 1-01

Subs S McGrath 0-01 for Patterson (41), D McKinley for Boyle (58), C McCloskey for E Og McGarry (61)

Dunloy R Elliott; P Duffin, E McFerran, O Quinn; A Crawford, R McGarry, Kevin Molloy 0-1; N McKeague, A McGarry; N Elliott 1-1, Keelan Molloy 1-5, T McFerran 0-3; E O’Neill 0-1 (f), S Elliott 0-8 (0-6f), P Shiels 0-1

Subs C Cunning 0-3 for Shiels (46), D Smith for McKeague (37), C McMahon for Smith (52), O McCallin for O’Neill (55), L McFerran for T McFerran (58)

Referee K Parke (St Enda’s)

Loughgiel full back Enda Og McGarry gets a hug from his mum Aileen and his granny Ita, plus tap on the arm from his aunt Carmel at the end of Sunday’s epic semi-final win over Dunloy in Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine

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by thesaffrongael

Dazzling first half performance sees Tir na nOg advance

IHC Semi-Final

Tir na nOg 3-13 Kickham’s Creggan 0-14

A dazzling first half display from Tir na nOg, Randalstown saw them overcome the challenge of neighbours Kickham’s Creggan in this Intermediate Hurling championship semi-final in front of a bumper crowd at an overcast Cloney on Sunday afternoon.

The Whitehill side dominated the opening half with Sean Duffin giving an imperious exhibition of point taking, from the placed ball and from play as the big number 8 controlled the tempo of the game from mid-field.

It was as good as over at half time when the Whitehill side led 2-10 to 0-3 and while Creggan were much better after the break the goal that might have brought them back into contention never looked like materialising.

The men in blue made a fast start in Ahoghill and started at a pace that they never relented throughout the opening 30 minutes as they dominated in nearly every department of the field.

It wasn’t the best of starts for the Staffordstown side when they lost Oran McCann to a recurring shoulder injury after 3 minutes and it would soon get worse as Josh Higgins from play and Sean Duffin from two converted frees edged Tir na nOg 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after 7 minutes play.

Morgan Nelson replied for Creggan with a point in the 10th minute but it was the greater intensity and pace of their opponents that continued to see them add scores in quick succession.

Ciaran Logan, Sean Duffin (0-2 f’s) and Eamon Og McAllister with an excellent point increased their lead to seven by the 16th minute before Conor McCann briefly halted the onslaught from a well struck long range free.

Duffin was on fire and added another long range rocket for Tir na nOg and Sean McKinley followed with another before Sean McAuley raised Creggan’s third white flag of the half from out near the touchline.

It was one of just a few first half moments when the Kickham’s escaped the close attentions of their opponents with Duffin replying immediately with a point before Daniel Martin set up McKinley for the game’s opening goal in the 21st minute.

Darragh Fagan (15) turns away after scoring Tir na nOg’s second goal and (Featured Image) Sean McKinley (14) scores their first

‘The Hill’ continued to press and a second goal arrived just before half time and a long delivery from mid-field saw substitute Colm Duffin place Darragh Fagan and he fired across Shea Devlin to leave his side 13 ahead at the break.

It looked a long way back for Creggan as they emerged for the second half but to their credit they came out with greater intent and a more fluent game plan and had it back to five at one stage of proceedings.

The introduction of Sam Maguire for the second half certainly tightened up their defence as Conor McCann, with some excellent long range points and Morgan Nelson leading their comeback.

McCann got them on their way from a 70 meter free and after Duffin replied with his 7th of the afternoon, it was the turn of Creggan’s Morgan Nelson to display his free taking prowess.

Kickham’s danger-man, Nelson had been held scoreless by Tir na nOg’s Ciaran O’Neill but he raised a whimper of hope from his side’s supporters as he pointed three frees in quick succession by the 13th minute.

The sweet striking Sean Duffin replied with a free from his own half to briefly halt the Creggan revival but the Kickham’s had gathered a bit of momentum and Dan Doran from play and Conor McCann with two more long range frees had it back to seven with 12 minutes remaining.

Another Nelson converted free and a Conor Small point reduced the deficit further and Nelson again split the posts from distance and it was down to six as Duffin proved his fallibility with a couple of wides for the Whitehill side.

Conor McCann had it back to five again as Creggan continued to enjoy the better of the second half exchanges and there was a bit of anxiety within the Randalstown ranks for the first time.

Disaster struck at the other end however as keeper Shea Devlin spilled a searching delivery and substitute Caleb Smith had the simplest of chances to kick the sliothar into an empty net and conclude the scoring.

Tir na nOg will now meet the winners of Oisin Glenariffe and Cloney Gaels who meet in Ballymena on Monday night and while they will be delighted with their first half performance they will have some concerns about the second and it is something they will surely be taking a look at in the build up to the decider in 2 weeks-time.

Caleb Smith raises his arms in celebration after scoring Tir na nOg’s third goal

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by thesaffrongael

Glenravel power to Junior Hurling title

Casment Social Club Junior Hurling Championship

Con Magee’s Glenravel 2-16 Glen Rovers Armoy 1-6

THE template for the Glenravel hurlers was set earlier in the day by the Ladies Footballers – get out in front at the start and then hit hard in the minute or two immediately after half-time. 

The hurlers took note and two minutes into the second half of this Casement Social Antrim Junior hurling final the Con Magee’s had one hand on the cup with a lead of 1-11 to 1-0!

Armoy simply couldn’t get going in the first half. They initiated the first couple of attacks only for Cormac McKeown to break and point on Glenravel’s first attack.

Conleth O’Loan pointed a free a second or two later and then Declan Traynor fired over two points in quick succession. 

Armoy steadied the ship a little over the next six minutes, but couldn’t make any headway at the other end of the field where they put three efforts the wrong side of the post.

Meanwhile Glenravel continued to add to their total; another point from McKeown, two from Traynor and then a second free from O’Loan and the lead was doubled to eight points with 24 minutes gone.

Then Armoy got their first break. A long delivery in dropped a bit dead and Arthur Devlin ran through to hit the net.

However Glenravel responded positively with two late pointed frees, one each for O’Loan and Seán McKay to make it 0-10 to 1-0 at the break.

Within 20 seconds of the re-start, O’Loan had the sliotar in the net, almost taking too much out of the ball by circling round to the left before composing himself to kick to the net.

Less than a minute later McKay took a lovely pass from McKeown to hit the target. The game looked in the bag at this stage, but Emmett O’Hara did his best to lift Armoy with a point to which Trevor Linton added a free.

However Glenravel were picking up a lot of dirty ball and creating openings like when Rian Lennon broke to feed Sean McKay for their 12th point.

Armoy though hit a good spell in the middle of the second half with two points from O’Hara either side of another Linton free before a shot from out the field came off the foot of the Glenravel upright and was cleared to safety. Had that effort gone into the net at that stage, there would have been just four points in it and momentum with Glen Rovers.

Over the next five minutes however, Glenravel wrestled that momentum back and put the result to bed.

Seán McKay started it off with a free. Within 60 seconds they had added two more via Conleth O’Loan and Fergus Donaghy. McKay added another free before the coup de grace in the 53rd minute. Luke Loughlin broke free and his delivery made its way through to the unmarked Callum Higgins who took the sliotar to the edge of the area and squeezed it under Tim Burns.

Armoy pushed up for the last five minutes plus with subs sprung from both benches, but they only managed to add a free from Turlough McBride.

The conditions were not really suited to exploit hurling skills, but the winners certainly looked the slicker team with strength over the ground ball, pace out of the tackle and then some excellent points.

Emmett O’Hara, Arthur Devlin and Ronan Lavelle worked hard to get Armoy going, but on the evening they were dominated by Glenravel who now move through to the Ulster arena four years after their last foray brought them to the semi-finals.

Con Magee’s: C Quinn, E McCusker, J Duffin, B O’Neill, J Martin, C Lennon, R Lennon, F Donaghy 0-1, D McAuley, C Higgins 1-0, S McKay 0-5, 3fs, D Donaghy, C O’Loan 1-4, 0-3fs, D Traynor 0-4, C McKeown 0-2.

Subs: L Loughlin for D Donaghy (40), M McDonnell for E McCusker (57), C Laverty for D Traynor (57), R McCormick for D McAuley (60).

Glen Rovers: Tim Burns, Callum Coyles, S Devlin, L Dillon, A Devlin 1-0, Thomas Burns, R Lavelle, C Christie, C McToal, T McBride 0-1 f, E O’Hara 0-3, PJ McBride, T Linton 0-2 fs, C Lordan, C McKenna.

Sub: C Doubthart for C Lordan (40), J McFetridge for C Coyles, Ciarán Coyles for T Linton (59).

Referee: P O’Neill (Creggan)

County chairman Seamus McMullan and Maria Toner of Casement Social Club with joint captains Eoin McCusker and Brian O’Neill

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by thesaffrongael

Ruairi’s bow out as Johnnies break semi final curse

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Semi Final

St John’s 1-26 Cushendall 1-22 (aet)

Saturday 4 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

Six semi-final defeats, twice on a replay and two in extra time but on Saturday afternoon, some associated with the Corrigan Park club could have been forgiven if it ever was going to happen.  But on an autumnal afternoon at Dunsilly, St John’s finally broke their semi-final curse.  It took extra time again against Cushendall, another comeback of sorts in normal time and an inner metal to get over the line as they booked their place in the county final.

It was a remarkable contest between two sides who we thought we had seen it all before.  We didn’t.  St John’s showed a determination to get over the line that might have been missing in recent years and while they finally, got to celebrate a semi-final victory.

Cushendall looked like they were doing exactly when Cushendall do.  Maybe not firing on all cylinders but find a way to get the job done.  Six points up with a little over 11 minutes remaining, they’ll be wondering how they let this one slip from their grasp.

On a day where they lost Neil McManus to a straight red card at the beginning of the second half in normal time, they found another serious match winner in Fiontan Bradley.  It felt like he was singlehandedly keeping Cushendall’s championship hopes alive and the Ruairi’s couldn’t get enough ball his direction.  He was giving the Johnnies defence a torrid time and playing the match of his life while Paddy Burke was holding their defence together with a show of leadership, skill and a tenaciousness that made him a nightmare to come up against.

Playing with a man less for nearly an hour proved to be decisive however as St John’s powered on in extra time.

Conor Johnston took the Bathshack man of the match award and rightly so.  Top of the Johnnies scoring charts with seven white flags but this was a day where plenty in blue and white put their hand up and showed their leadership qualities. Ciaran Johnston was immense while Peter McCallin was outstanding at the heart of the defence.  Playing as their spare man later in the game, McCallin’s reading of the game to get to the break of the ball was uncanny.

With the wind blowing from the scoreboard end at Dunsilly, this was always going to be a game of two halves.  Cushendall had the elements in their favour and built a four point lead by half time.  It wasn’t exactly the most fluent game of hurling we’ve witnessed this year but the intensity was incredible.  There was no such thing as a yard given, space was earned while time on the ball was a rarity.  McManus accurate from frees, Bradley at his impish best while goal keeper Conor McAlister landed two massive frees from deep in his own half.

The Johnnies were slowing the game down at every opportunity.  It felt like it took an age for every restart from the Corrigan Park side but there was little who could blame them.  They set out with a game plan and they played it to perfection.  Shea Shannon, Conor Johnston, Aaron Bradley and Oisin MacManus all with the scores.

Four points wasn’t a big lead and the Johnnies would have been the happier of the two sides at the interval.  Cushendall made changes with Fergus McCambridge and Ciaran Neeson introduced, looking to a running game to combat against the elements.  The Ruairi’s management were forced into a rethink with barely a minute on the clock in the second half.  When Fergus McCambridge was felled, both sides got involved in pushing and shoving.  Players were felled and referee Mark O’Neill had a call to make.  After consulting with his linesmen, Neil McManus saw red and the Johnnies had got a serious boost of momentum.

The opening goal of the game came moments later with a quick puck out from Domhnall Nugent finding McCallin.  He sent the sliotar towards Conall Bohill, the sliotar wasn’t taken cleanly but Aaron Bradley ran onto the loose ball, jinking one way and the other before speeding towards goal.  He left the Ruairi’s defence in his wake and fired to the bottom of Conor McAlister’s net.

Cushendall still managed to keep the score board ticking with Bradley taking over the free taking responsibility from McManus while Conall Bohill was growing into the game.

The sides were tied on 0-14 to 1-11 half way through the second half when Cushendall hit another purple patch.  They would score 1-3 in a little over four minutes to put six between the sides and Cushendall in pole position to book their place in the final.  Ryan McCambridge, Joseph McLaughlin and Bradley (free) with the points while Ciaran Neeson’s goal looked to knock the stuffing out of the St John’s challenge.

Incredibly, Cushendall would only score one more time before the final whistle as St John’s dug deep.  Conall Bohill was immense as every high ball seemed to come his way while MacManus’ frees were reeling the Cushendall lead in.

One point separated the sides as the clock ticked into injury time when Bradley’s eighth white flag put two between the sides once again.  St John’s rallied and points from Domhnall Nugent and a brilliant effort from Conor Johnston sent the semi final to extra time.

As the teams regrouped, extra time began with St John’s playing with the wind.  A couple of wides looked to derail their challenge  and when Bradley split the uprights to give Cushendall the lead it looked like the Ruairi’s were going to use all their knowhow of eeking out games to get over the line.

Scores from Shannon (free), Michail Dudley, Mick Bradley and a brace from Conor Johnston gave them a four point lead.  The second of Johnston’s brace coming as he was completely off balance and hit in mid-air.

Four points was a slender lead but St John’s controlled the second half of extra time.  Any time Cushendall got a score, they replied to keep the three point deficit with a brace of frees from captain Shea Shannon getting them over the line in injury time.

It’s been a generation since St John’s last graced the Antrim County Final, you’ll have to go longer than that since they last took the Volunteer Cup back to Corrigan Park to stay.  This team are 60 minutes away from writing their names in St John’s folklore.

TEAMS

ST JOHN’S: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Ciaran Johnston, Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Aaron Bradley; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Conall Bohill; Donal Carson, Shea Shannon, Oisin MacManus

Scorers: Conor Johnston 0-7, O MacManus 0-6 (5f), S Shannon 0-5 (4f), A Bradley 1-2, C Bohill 0-3, D Nugent 0-1 (1f), Michael Bradley 0-1, Michail Dudley 0-1

CUSHENDALL: Conor McAlister; Charlie McAuley, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McCambridge; Fred McCurry, Ed McQuillan; Ronan McAteer, Neil McManus, Thomas McLaughlin; Fiontan Bradley, Sean McAfee, Joseph McLaughlin

Scorers: F Bradley 0-11 (6f), Ciaran Neeson 1-1, N McManus 0-3 (3f), J McLaughlin 0-2, R McCambridge 0-2, C McAlister 0-2 (2f), E Campbell 0-1

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

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